Inspired by the flavours of South-East Asia, locally based American expatriate couple Simin Kayhan and Rick Ames have created a gin that incorporates ingredients sourced from this slice of the world. Paper Lantern Sichuan Pepper Gin is a small-batch spirit, distilled in Chiang Mai from rice, that's infused with ginger, galangal, lemongrass, Thai honey and – surprise, surprise – Sichuan peppercorns.

Not that the heat will scorch your tongue. The gin is light and not too dry, with the piquancy of the peppercorns only showing up in a long finish. We recommend serving it on the rocks with Thai soda water and a squeeze of lime juice for a refreshing thirst-quencher. The Sichuan Pepper Gin was the result of a crowd-funding effort by the couple, who managed to raise $15,000 within 30 hours of launching the project on Pozible.

Get your hands on the gin online, at The Proof Flat by EC Proof, and at PS Café’s retail spaces.